Shuttlecock

ABSTRACT

A shuttlecock having a cap and a flared skirt, the latter having an inner and outer part made of artificial material and incorporating in the outer part, a plurality of stems and ribs connecting the stems and flaps projecting from the edges of said ribs at a substantial angle to the outer face of the ribs and to the airflow passing along the normal line of flight of the shuttlecock. This increases the resistance of the outer skirt. and improves the turnover of the shuttlecock. The flaps project from at least the trailing edge of the ribs and may also project from the leading edge. The invention is developed so that a plurality of flutes are formed in the outer skirt, the said flaps project from the trailing edges of the ribs on the right face of the flutes. The flaps may also project from the leading edges of the ribs on the left face of the flutes. The combination of the angle of the flute and the angle of the flap causes the shuttlecock to spin rapidly. The flaps nest in the space between the flutes and the inner perimeter of the tube in which the shuttlecocks are packed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This specification is in the field of sports equipment andrelates to shuttlecocks of the type which have a cap and a flared skirtmade of artificial material. This flared skirt has an inner and an outerpart and may incorporate a balloon in the space partially enclosed bythe said flared skirt.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] There are two main types of shuttlecocks, those in which theflared skirt is made of feathers and those in which the flared skirt ismade of artificial material: the former spin more rapidly than thelatter when propelled at the same speed. Slow spin has been induced inshuttlecocks having a skirt of artificial material by introducing intothe plane of the outer skirt deflectors such as flutes made by indentingthe ribs, setting the stems at an angle to the line of flight, andsimilar features. Examples of specifications which have given attentionto these features are GB 689532, GB907700 and D 344938. Diagrammaticsketches of well-known models from the period 1960 to 1998 are given inFIGS. 1-5 of this specification: FIG. 1 on sale by Carlton, 1960. FIG. 2on sale by Dunlop Carlton, 1997. FIG. 3 on sale by Yonex, 1998. FIG. 4on sale by R. J. Classic, 1998. FIG. 5 on sale by Yonex, 1998. All ofthese shuttlecocks incorporate flutes which are arranged insubstantially the same manner as that shown in FIG. 6 and all the ribsare arranged between the stems. Projections from the outermost rib havetheir outermost part above the stems. Shuttlecocks having ribs betweenthe stems but no flutes were on sale by Carlton in 1951.

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS TO BE OVERCOME

[0003] There are two problems which are associated. The first is theturnover, which is defined for the purpose of this specification asresistance to tumbling, cap over skirt, when the direction of flight ischanged in play. A good turnover is aided by increasing the flare,increasing the resistance and/or reducing the weight of the outer partof the skirt. The second problem is that Law 3.1 of badminton includesthe requirement that the correct speed of a shuttle is ascertained bystriking a shuttle with a full underhand stroke but Law 2.1 requiresthat the flight characteristics should be similar to those produced by anatural feathered shuttle; these two laws are to some extent,conflicting. A full underhand stroke strikes the shuttlecock with muchless force than a severe smash but a good feather shuttlecock movesquickly when smashed and decelerates rapidly immediately after thesmash. This deceleration is affected by the speed of the spin of thefeather shuttlecock, which is caused by the passage of air between theoverlapping parts of the feathers. The technical problem is to improvethe turnover and at the same time, increase the speed of the spin of ashuttlecock having a skirt made of artificial material.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0004] This invention is that in a shuttlecock having a cap and a flaredskirt, the said flared skirt incorporating an inner and outer part madeof artificial materials, said flared skirt incorporating in its outerpart a plurality of stems and a plurality of ribs connecting said stemsand in that the said outer part incorporates a plurality of flaps whichproject from the edges of said ribs at a substantial angle to the outerface of said ribs and to the airflow passing along the flared skirt ofthe shuttlecock.

[0005] The invention is developed in that the said flaps project fromthe trailing edge of the said ribs

[0006] Another development is that the said flaps project from theleading edge of said ribs. A further development is that the saidshuttlecock incorporates a plurality of flutes,in the said outer skirt,the said flutes incorporating two faces referred to as the left face andthe right face and in that said flaps project from the trailing edge ofthe ribs on the said right faces of the said flutes. A furtherdevelopment is that a plurality of flaps project from the edges of aplurality of ribs, the said flaps being on the same side of the sameflute. The invention is further developed in that the said flaps projectfrom the leading edge of the said left faces on the said flutes. Theinvention may be alternatively developed in that the said flaps projectfrom the trailing edge on the left faces on the said flutes.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

[0007] By setting the flaps associated with the ribs at a substantialangle to the outer face of said ribs and to the airflow passing alongthe flared skirt of the shuttlecock the resistance of the outer skirt isincreased, and the combination of the angle of the flap and the angle ofthe appropriate face of the flute improves the turnover and increasesthe speed of the spin at the same time. Further, the outer part of theflap is substantially within the perimeter of the tube into which theshuttlecock is packed, and is therefore protected whilst in storage;this is a critical advantage.

MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention will now be described by way of example and withreference to certain of the following accompanying drawings in which:

[0009] FIGS. 1-6 are examples of the background art.

[0010]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the front elevation of one panelof a plurality of panels in the outer skirt of a shuttlecockincorporating the invention.

[0011]FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the panel of FIG. 7, showing a stemand a plurality of ribs in one side of the flute.

[0012]FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view from the rear of the trailing edgeof one rib in which a flute has been formed in the shuttlecock.

[0013]FIG. 10 is a much enlarged diagrammatic view of the rib 1 with itsflap 6.

[0014]FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of a section through XX in FIG. 10.

[0015]FIG. 12 is an enlarged rear view of the rib 1 with its flap 6 asit would fit into a tube in which the shuttlecock is packed.

[0016]FIG. 13 is a view of a panel similar to that shown in FIG. 7, butwith flaps in alternative positions.

[0017]FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic enlarged view of a section through YY inFIG. 13.

[0018]FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic rear view of the flutes of a shuttlecockwith an alternative arrangement of the stems and ribs.

[0019] Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 the rib 1 connectingstems 4 and 5 is indented to form a flute having a left face 2 and aright face 3. The flap 6 projects from the trailing edge 10 of the rib 1at a substantial angle 9 (about 120°) to the outer surface of the rib 1and to the airflow passing along the flared skirt indicated by thedirection of the stem 5 in relation to the arrow 20 in FIG. 8. This flap6 not only increases the flare but also increases the resistance of theouter skirt. Because it is a convention that a shuttlecock rotates in ananti-clockwise direction when viewed from the rear, in the above examplethe flap 6 is on the right face 3 of the flute 2-3, which is formed byindenting the rib 1, which itself connects the stems 4 and 5. If it wasrequired that the shuttlecock should rotate in the opposite direction,the system would be reversed. Further ribs 8 also connect the stems 4and 5. The combination of the angle of the right face 3 of the flutewith the angle of the flap 6 causes the shuttlecock to spin rapidly inan anti-clockwise direction when viewed from the rear. The ‘substantial’angle 9 is not critical.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 12, a much enlarged view of a flute of ashuttlecock when positioned in a packing tube; the inside edge of thepacking tube 7 encloses the stems 4 and 5 and the rib 1, which is formedinto a flute having a left face 2 and a right face 3. The flap 6 issubstantially protected from deformation because it is protected by thespace left between the flute 2-3 and the wall of the storage tube 7.

[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, an enlarged view of a panel ofa shuttlecock shows the arrangement of two ribs 16 and 17. Rib 16 has aflap 13 projecting from the trailing edge 22 on the right face 12 of theflute 11-12, whilst rib 17 has a flap 14 projecting from the trailingedge 23 on the right face 18 of the same flute 11-12 making a pluralityof flaps on the same face of one flute. Further, rib 16 has a flap 15projecting from its leading edge 24 on the left face 11 of the flute11 - 12. For the sake of clarity, all ribs in one panel are consideredto be in the same flute.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 14, a diagrammatic view of a section through YYin FIG. 13, the flap 15 projects at a substantial angle 19 (about 120°)from the leading edge of rib 16; the said flap 15 is also projecting ata substantial angle 21 (about 60°) to the airflow indicated by the arrow20, passing along the flared skirt. The ‘substantial’ angles 19 and 21are not critical.

[0023] In the above examples there is a slight difference between theangle of the outer face of the ribs and the general angle of the flaredskirt but the difference is not material to the efficiency of thisinvention.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 15, a rear view of an alternative constructionof a shuttlecock; there is a plurality of stems 25 on a larger diameterthan a plurality of stems 26. This allows larger flutes with noindentation of the ribs 27 and ribs 28 but larger flaps 29 could then beemployed.

[0025] Referring again to FIGS. 7, 9, 10 and 12, the highest part of theflap 6 is between the stems 4 and 5.

1. In a shuttlecock having a cap and a flared skirt, the said flaredskirt incorporating an inner and an outer part made of artificialmaterials, said flared skirt incorporating in its outer part a pluralityof stems (4,5), and a plurality of ribs (1,8,16,17) connecting saidstems the shuttlecock being characterized in that the said outer skirtincorporates a plurality of flaps (6,13,14,15) which project from edgesof said ribs (1,16,17) at a substantial angle (9,19,28) to the outerface of the said ribs (1,16,17) and to the airflow (20) passing alongthe normal line of flight of the shuttlecock.
 2. A shuttlecock as inclaim 1 and characterized in that the said flaps (6,13,14,) project fromthe trailing edge (10,22,23) of the said ribs (1,16,17).
 3. Ashuttlecock as in claim 1 and characterized in that the said flaps (15)project from the leading edge (24) of the said ribs(16).
 4. Ashuttlecock as in claims 1 and 2 incorporating a plurality of flutes(2-3, 11-12) in their said outer parts, the faces of the said flutesbeing referred to as the left face (2,11) and the right face (3,12) andthe shuttlecock being characterized in that the said flaps (6,13,14)project from the trailing edge (10,22,23) of the ribs (1,16,17) on theright face (3,12,18) of the said flutes (2-3, 11-12).
 5. A shuttlecockas in claims 1 and 3 incorporating a plurality of said flutes (11-12)the faces of which are referred to as the left face (11) and the rightface (12) and the shuttlecock being characterized in that the said flaps(15) project from the leading edges (24) of the ribs (16) on the leftfaces (11) of the flutes (11-12).
 6. A shuttlecock as in claim 1 andcharacterized in that the said flaps (not shown) project from thetrailing edge (10,22) of the said ribs (1,16) on the left face (2,11) ofthe flutes (2-3, 11-12).
 7. A shuttlecock as in claim 1 andcharacterised in that he highest part of the said flap(6) is between thestems (4) and (5).